Conflict-avoidant is a common style, indeed my instinctive style, of management. The sense is that life's too filled with conflict naturally to waste time creating it artificially. However, debate can be beneficial like manure -- useful when applied properly.
Giuliani found staff debates enormously helpful, and would create them specifically so that he could hear more views on just about everything. What are some keys to productive debate?
1. Ask someone to take the other side.
2. The participants must believe that the outcome is not predetermined. As the leader, don't take sides until people have had their say.
Recently I told you about the condo roofing debate. It was hard to hold my tongue, but it was essential. Further, it was tough to give second and third chances for people to express their questions and concerns. Twenty people had taken time out of their schedule for a very personal and expensive vote. All deserved to be heard in an unbiased way.
I'm gifted with mental agility in some ways (math and vocabulary are a couple), but one-on-one debate has not been a strength. In a way, group debate is a blessing as a result. In group debate, the focus is on a task rather than an individual, so personal reputation is not so much at stake. Further, the time it takes for 2-3 people to voice their ideas to each other is often enough for me to collect my own thoughts. It's one of the blessings of a complicated world -- group dynamics make up for individual shortcomings, and help everyone to feel a greater sense of purpose.
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